According to Fancy Gadam, the amount does not reflect the sleepless nights, studio expenses, promotions, and long-term investment that go into building a music career. He described the payment alert as more than just a notification, calling it “a loud question mark on how our music is valued and how creatives are treated.”

Despite the frustration, the musician says passion keeps him going. “We keep creating because we love the art. But love alone shouldn’t be the payment,” he added.

His complaint adds to ongoing discussions within Ghana’s creative industry about royalty distribution, transparency, and fair compensation for artistes. Several musicians have previously expressed dissatisfaction with GHAMRO’s payouts, arguing that the system does not adequately reward their contributions.

While GHAMRO maintains that royalties are distributed based on collections and usage data, creatives insist that the figures often fail to reflect the real impact of their work.

In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with DJ Slim, the rapper revealed that despite registering with GHAMRO many years ago, he has not received any royalties from the organisation.

“They gave me an ID card and collected all my songs and registered me five months ago,” he said.

Big Joe Fraizer, who has been in the music industry for over 20 years, expressed his frustration, stating that he has not received any payment from GHAMRO despite his efforts and follow up.

He recalled registering with the organisation, but his name is no longer in their system.

The rapper disclosed that his income has come primarily from performances, thanking his hit song “Yaa Maame” for opening up international opportunities and enabling him to establish his record label, JF Project (Joe Fraizer Project).

The experience of Big Joe Fraizer raises questions about the effectiveness of GHAMRO in collecting and distributing royalties to artistes.

The Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) is an establishment under section 49 of the Copyright Law, Act 690 of 2005 and regulated under L.I 1962 of 2010 to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of authors/composers and other rights owners.

According to him, he was not aware the list of songs was supposed to be confidential.

“I wasn’t told it was supposed to be confidential. For people to be clear that what we wanted the team to do has been done, I posted the first page then I was told it is a confidential document. I am apologizing not because I have done anything wrong but because as a present leader of the institution, I want people to know that my intentions are clear” he explained.

This apology comes after Ghanaians criticised Rex Omar for posting the list of songs to be performed by Afua Asantewaa on his official Facebook page.

The Chairman of GHAMRO in a Facebook live video on December 18 explained that, his initial request for the list of the songs is in adherence to copyright regulations.

Sharing it on Facebook was to commend Asantewaa and her team for doing the needful and not out of malice.

Afua Asantewaa is determined to set a new record for the longest singing marathon by an individual aiming for 117 to 120 hours.

In his view, the said amount if true falls far short of what Ghanaian artistes truly deserve.

Shatta said such a meager amount will not even cover basic expenses like studio recording fees, let alone sustain an artiset for a year’s worth of airplay.

He cited how he was able to buy three houses with just a single collaboration with Beyoncé to buttress his point.

Despite his disappointment, Shatta Wale expressed hope that GHAMRO would improve its methods and offer better support to Ghanaian artistes in the future.

He was happy platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, Audiomack, and his Distrokid account give him money noting that, relying solely on GHAMRO for royalties wouldn’t have sustained his career.

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This, he says, has resulted in many musicians exiting the showbiz scene poor.

According to D-Black, the various institutions set up to seek the welfare of artistes are reneging on their responsibilities and refusing to be accountable for their stewardship.

He stated that, “MUSIGA as a body is in court. There’s no leader. It’s just a mess. I feel like those systems need to be put in place to overlook the rights of Ghanaian creatives not only in the music scene but also in the movie industry as well.”

Speaking to Amelley Djosu on Joy Prime’s Celeb Biz Saturday, the “Enjoyment” hit-maker described the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) as terrible.

“If I’m to speak bluntly, I will say that the structures that are in place for our music industry are terrible. GHAMRO is a terrible organisation. There’s no accountability. I don’t know how much I’ve made from GHAMRO in my 13 years in the music industry.”

“They’ve attempted to [pay me royalty], but there’s no accountability. You can’t tell me this is what we’re giving everybody. It doesn’t make any sense. When we receive our royalties outside of the country, we get a report. In New Zealand, the song played 77 times between the months of May and August on Spotify. All these data are there,” he said.

The businessman added that a number of right-collection agencies are willing to assist Ghana in setting up a proper scheme to disburse royalties, but GHAMRO has refused to work with them.

The CEO of Black Avenue called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, address the pertinent issues plaguing the creative industry in Ghana.

D-Black is of the strongest view that the government has over the years made several empty promises to help the ailing entertainment industry, and it is high time those pledges were fulfilled.

He further told the host, Amelley Djosu, that the world’s eye is on Ghana, and the government must leverage the opportunity by making strategic investments in the sector.

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore also expressed concern about the inability of artiste managers in the country to appreciate the nuances and dynamics of the music business.

He, however, encouraged his colleague musicians and artiste managers to read widely and be abreast of changing times in order to remain relevant and profitable in the showbiz industry.

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In a recent interview, the award-winning singer expressed her frustrations, shedding light on the challenges faced by many artistes who find themselves in similar situations.

Ohemaa Mercy, known for songs such as Wobeye Kese and Ote Memu, mentioned that the 300 cedis has been her only royalty payment since 2007.

Her revelation has further deepened and raised questions about the transparency and accountability of royalty collection and distribution in the Ghanaian music industry, with the role of GHAMRO.

GHAMRO, established to protect and manage the rights of musicians and songwriters, collects royalties on behalf of artistes for the public performance and broadcasting of their music.

These royalties are intended to serve as a crucial source of income for artistes, supporting their creative endeavours and livelihoods.

In the said interview, Ohemaa Mercy lamented about the financial difficulties she had faced due to the lack of proper structures to earn the right royalties.

“I received GH¢300 in 2007 and since then, I have never received any money from the royalties-sharing agency,” she said.

Ohemaa Mercy also called for transparency, accountability, reforms and a comprehensive review of the royalty collection and distribution processes to ensure that artistes receive fair share of their earnings.

Meanwhile, some artistes including Celestine Donkor, Shatta Wale and Kwaw Kese have received thousands of cedis from GHAMRO as royalties following the implementation of their new system.

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Contrary to accusations that GHAMRO is not living up to its mandate of collecting and distributing royalties accordingly, Stay Jay is confident “the system is working”.

Months back, some artiste called out GHAMRO for what they said is ‘cheating’ as majority revealed they have not been paid more than GHS 250 since they registered with the organisation.

But, in a latest interview on Onua FM, Stay Jay claimed to have been receiving not less than GHS 20,000 monthly.

Asked how his story is different from that of his colleagues, he responded that “you have to know where to channel yourself to. When you go there and you register with them, they take all your royalties and everything for you everywhere. When you give them the chance, they will do it for you.”

In his view, registering with GHAMRO is not enough and artiste must make the conscious efforts to do constant follow-ups and have representatives.

“You have to know where to channel yourself to. When you go there and you register with them, I think they’re gonna take all your royalties and everything for you everywhere. You go there, speak to them and they show you everything you have to do and you follow it.”

Following his demise, Akosua Adjepong took interest in calling out GHAMRO for what she said is false-hearted condolences to the bereaved family after failing to offer Mr Akwaboah financial aid when he was indisposed.

Among other things, she revealed that GHAMRO paid a meager GHS 250 as royalties via mobile money, an allegation the CEO, Abraham Adjatey and other executive vehemently debunked.

Mr Adjatey revealed no call whatsoever was placed to the outfit by Akwaboah Snr for help, adding that such amount was never sent to the legend, neither is there a record in their portfolio.

This caused a rift between Akosua Adjepong and GHAMRO of which both parties threatened legal battles.

Bringing some clarity to the case, Madam Akwaboah revealed her husband indeed received GHS 250, not through mobile money, but it was handed directly to the legend on his sick bed.

“My husband received GHS 250 which he informed Akosua Adjepong about. At that time he was receiving treatment at Lekma hospital when they came. He had previously called Rex Omar who said he was driving; nothing was heard from him again. Later, two guys brought us GHS 250 on behalf of GHAMRO with the message that we should use it for the treatment and gather medical receipt for further aid.”

Aside that fund, Madam Akwaboah said the next money her husband received was GHS 100 via mobile money as Christmas token.

To her knowledge, royalties her husband has received in his over two decades of doing music did not even amount to GHS 1,000.

She further revealed her husband died disappointed in GHAMRO.

A vindicated Akosua Adjepong was gingered by the comment as she continued to launch another attack on the royalties collection organisation.

The veteran singer has since time immemorial been up in alms with GHAMRO, accusing them of not fulfilling their mandate of collecting and distributing royalties accordingly.

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She pointed out that her assertion that the activities of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) were unlawful was not baseless but backed by facts, and she was prepared to present them whenever she was called upon to do so.

It would be recalled that the Frema hitmaker had accused the IMC, with Rex Omar as Chairman, of operating illegally and demanded the Attorney General’s office to shut it down.

Her tirades sparked outrage from some executive members of GHAMRO, who have threatened to sue her if she continued to spread false information.

A Board Member of GHAMRO, Mrs Diana Hopeson, disclosed in a recent interview with an Accra-based radio station, Rainbow Radio, that the organisation was making plans to take legal action against Akosua Adjepong for making what they regarded as false claims.

Akosua Adjepong, however, stated, in an interview with Graphic Showbiz on Monday, June 12, 2023, that she was unfazed by their ‘threats’ of a lawsuit, and she was prepared to face them off squarely.

“I am waiting for them, I don’t care at all if they want to sue me, I am very ready for them. If they think what I have been saying are lies, and they have their own truth somewhere, I am ever ready to face and confront them in court with facts,” she said.

She said she was convinced that GHAMRO’s threats of legal action were unfounded and were only intended to silence her, and it was something she was not ready to do.

“I’m not sure what I did wrong. What I do know is that people despise the truth, and if you tell the truth, you make enemies for yourself. They’re simply threatening to sue me to get me to stop talking, and I’m not ready to comply because I want what’s right to be done.”

The Kokooko hitmaker disclosed to Graphic Showbiz that she was prepared to react to any counter-allegations made by GHAMRO.

She said some members had accused her of forming a spinners association and reaping profits, which had negatively impacted GHAMRO’s financial strength, claims she strongly refuted.

“They said I had established a spinners association, and I have been collecting money from them and issuing receipts. The truth will come out if I have or not. They claim I am saying things that are not true, but everything I am saying concerning them is from their annual report; the monies I mentioned are all coming from their annual report and it’s the truth.

“I feel it is now necessary for the public to be aware of whatever is happening, and I am prepared to present the facts. Everything I have said and will say is based on records that are now public, the annual report, etc. These are not made-up tales,” she added.

Akosua Adjepong went on to tell Graphic Showbiz that she was not acting maliciously as some people were saying. but instead, her actions were intended to help shape the affairs of GHAMRO.

“Nothing I do is motivated by resentment or animosity; rather, I just want to make sure as an organisation, we uphold moral and legal standards,” she added.   

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This was disclosed by Diana Hopeson, a member of the board of GHAMRO.

She was speaking in a radio interview with Rainbow Entertainment.

According to her, the allegations by some of GHAMRO’s members particularly Akosua Adjepong have contributed to the current woes of the delay of its license to operate.

“Aside from that, some members who continue to spread false rumours about the organisation will continue to make false claims. Some of them, notably Akosua Adjepong, advise businesses not to pay royalties.

“It demonstrates her aversion to GHAMRO. She is the greatest person to explain to you what she is doing and why she is doing it. GHAMRO is prepared to go to court this time because whatever she is doing is impacting GHAMRO.

“She keeps spreading false rumours that we are operating illegally, so we are prepared to take her on legally. She wants to be in charge, therefore, she is on a mission to ruin us, but when elections come around, she does not file to run.

“She is also aware that what she does disqualifies her because our laws state that dragging the name of the organisation through the dirt may result in a penalty, which is why she rarely files. We have repeatedly requested that she appears before us to reply to matters, but she has failed to do so. Unfortunately, she is not interested in the organisation’s success,” she said.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz in May 2023, Akosua Adjepong urged the office of the Attorney General to close down GHAMRO because the operation of the interim management committee was illegal.

According to her, the interim management committee with Rex Omar as Chairman was working illegally as their mandate was not backed by any law.

The ‘Kokooko’ hitmaker pointed out that the office of the Attorney General hadn’t renewed GHAMRO’s license so those at the helm of affairs had no business running the organisation.

While GHAMRO was hopeful of its license being renewed, things rather seemed to have gone sour for the organisation when Rex Omar, Executive Director of the Interim Board disclosed at a press conference on Thursday, June 1, that the Attorney General declined renewing their license.

Though it was widely reported in the media that their license had been revoked, Rex Omar corrected the impression in an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Rhytmz A-Z yesterday, June 3.

He pointed out that they had hoped to have their licence renewed but that has not been possible due to misinformation being peddled about GHAMRO by some of its members spearheaded by Akosua Adjepong.

This is because the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), charged with the responsibility of distributing royalties, has had its license withheld.

It comes on the back of calls by veteran singer, Akosua Agyapong, for the office’s closure over some legal matters which has prevented the organisation from renewing its license for some time now.

The development was announced at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of GHAMRO’s interim management committee, Rex Omar, explained that the royalties collection agency would not be able to distribute any collection.

This means the organisation will not be able to execute its collection mandate until the license is renewed.

Rex explained that GHAMRO had fulfilled all the renewal conditions under Section 24 of the Copyright Legislative Instrument.

“In 2010, GHAMRO submitted all the requisite documentation for the renewal of its license in June, 2022. This is against a campaign from notable persons like Madam Akosua Adjepong that the organization certificate has not been renewed and that Users should stop payments for the use of protected music which is regulated under law,” he stated.

That notwithstanding, the Copyright office through a letter dated 17th May, 2023 has requested that the organization should agree to suspend its cases in court, re-adopt Prof. Sutherland’s Report and to readmit the dissolved Election Committee to organize new elections.

Rex Omar added that “it is unfortunate that after the Attorney General’s Office Roadmap has almost been completed with the exception of the apped case yet to be cleared, GHAMRO is being asked to go back to start the recommendation of the Efua Sutherland Committee.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the press conference Rex assured GHAMRO members that the leadership has written a petition to the Attorney General to register their displeasure about the directive.

He also noted that although the organisation is barred from distributing royalties, it can still collect royalties and wait till their licence is renewed before they can give them out to the right owners.

Meanwhile, Rex Omar has taken strong exception to the allegation by Mrs Agyapong describing it as a “smear campaign to malign the management and Directors of the organization with misleading information to further their personal agenda.”

Akosua Agyapong has among other things accused GHAMRO of impropriety including non-compliance to many recommendations enshrined in the organisation’s 2021 report.

She told Graphic Showbiz that one of them is a requirement for GHAMRO to use 10% of royalties for the welfare of rights holders.

But Mrs Agyapong says this is not being implemented.

“From the 2021 report, those who are managing the fund are paid GHC72,000 annually; yet, members in dire need don’t get assistance,” she said.

Highlife musician Akosua Agyapong had alleged in an interview on Adom FM that when the late musician contacted GHAMRO for financial support to buy medicine, they sent him only GH¢ 250.

She wondered if the executives would be able to attend the funeral of Akwaboah Senior after allegedly giving him that paltry amount of money. 

Replying to the sentiments on social media, Rex Omar indicated that Akosua’s claims were lies.

“Akosua is the biggest liar! So why didn’t she speak about it till now that the man is dead? We have no such records in our welfare books. Kwadwo was a very proud man and will never say any such thing to anyone,” he wrote in a Facebook comment. 

“During his entire years of sickness its only once he ever asked for assistance from Ghamro and when he did, GHAMRO welfare took him to the hospital in their vehicle to meet his doctor and there was no money paid to Kwadwo himself but to the hospital. Records are there to prove this, Kwadwo is dead so now all of a sudden Akosua has become his spokesperson? She should shut up with her fabricated stories and allow the man rest in peace!” he further stated.

The deceased musician Kwadwo Akwaboah, the father of contemporary Ghanaian musician Gladstorm Akwaboah, known for songs such as ‘Awerekyekyere’ and ‘Hini Me’, passed away on May 16, 2023 after falling ill. 

Akosua Agyapong’s comment on Adom FM has re-ignited criticism of GHAMRO. The organisation has, over the years, been mauled for lapses in its operations, especially regarding the inequitable distribution of royalties to its members.

Although GHAMRO is a collective management organisation (CMO) and not a welfare group, it is mandated by its constitution to allocate 10% of monies received as royalties to cater for the welfare of musicians. 

In the meantime, the managers of the CMO have expressed their commitment to making sure it gets more efficient for music right owners in Ghana. 

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In reference to the demise of Kwadwo Akwaboah Snr, Akosua Agyapong was up in arms with GHAMRO for failing to be financially beneficial to the industrious highlife artiste when he was alive.

In an interview on Adom FM, she asserted that Akwaboah Snr informed the organisation of being financially handicapped but he was sent a meager GHS 250 via mobile money, earning she said the late artiste was not happy about.

She went on to label the CEO, Agya Abraham, as a thief who is failing to fulfill GHAMRO’s mandate as a transparent royalties collection entity.

Reacting to the claims on the same platform, Agya Abraham stated categorically that he has not received any call from the late Akwaboah Snr demanding financial assistance for medical welfare.

“Kwadwo is not someone who was comfortable letting people in on his problems. I have received no call from him personally as alleged. The heavens and earth and holy spirit will bear me witness that this man has not informed me of any problems or made demands, not even once.”

Due to his sight impairment, Agya Abraham said Akwaboah Snr had a separate portfolio where monies could be handed to him directly, without having to pass through the usual lengthy procedure, hence there is no way he would have been paid in mobile money as Akosua Agyapong claimed.

The CEO opined that the unfounded claims by Akosua Agyapong is an insult to Akwaboah Jnr’s potency of caring for his father, owing to his well established background in the industry.

Speaking on the label as a thief, he said it is the lowest Akosua can bring his name since he has no charge of thievery both in GHAMRO and in his other corporate portfolio.

Agya Abraham challenged Akosua Agyapong to provide evidence of her claims for further investigation or allow his name and GHAMRO to rest.

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Akosua Agyapong, a veteran singer and dancer, has expressed her frustration over how the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) treats musicians.

She believes it is unfair that GHAMRO only provides support to artistes after they have passed away.

In an interview on the Work and Happiness show on Adom FM, she revealed that before his death, Kwadwo Akwaboah Snr had complained to her about GHAMRO offering a mere GHc250 as financial assistance for his medical expenses.

She questioned why people are only celebrated and supported after they die, emphasising the need for recognition and assistance while they are alive.

Madam Agyapong, who had a close relationship with Akwaboah Snr, praised his son, Akwaboah Jnr, for taking good care of his father.

“Why do we always wait for people to die before we talk about them or celebrate them?

“I have wept, why? Akwaboah Snr called me three or four months ago and told me he went to the hospital and because he did not have enough money, he decided to call the GHAMRO office for financial assistance in order to purchase drugs.

“He told me they sent GHc250 and he was really hurt because he had never asked for support.”

“Now that he is late, will GHAMRO attend his one-week? And will they give out money to the family?” she quizzed.

The Frema crooner urged musicians to stand up for their rights and called on the Attorney General’s department to take action against GHAMRO.

Akwaboah Snr passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after a prolonged illness.

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The Auditor-General of Ghana, who is the head of the Ghana Audit Service, undertakes audits of the public accounts of Ghana and all public offices as mandated by Article 187 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Mr. Adjatey told host of Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, George Quaye on Saturday, January 28 that, lack of power on the part of the Auditor-General to directly prosecute people who have misapplied or misused state funds, has rendered the institution useless. He, therefore, called for the office to be closed down.

“They should close the Auditor-General’s office, and send the Auditor-General and all his workers home because they are of no use to this country. Because if the use is that you will tell us who ‘chopped’ our money and every year you will do that exercise, we don’t need such people. We need people who can do that investigation, tell us and have the power to prosecute,” he said.

The GHAMRO CEO made this statement during a discussion on the current Auditor-General’s report on the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The special audit report basically captures the recoveries made from disallowed expenditure in the Auditor-General’s reports from 2017 to 2020 and payroll savings as of September 2022. It states that an amount of GH¢ 900.00 out of GH¢ 387,196.00 misapplied Marine Drive Project Funds have been recovered.

An extra amount of GH¢ 2,000.00 has also been recovered “out of GH¢ 32,134.00 reported as payment of unearned salaries by Department of Community Development.”

Meanwhile, reports say work on the Marine Drive Project, an initiative to develop the 241-acre prime beachfront of Accra is “progressing slowly” as a result of lack of funds. This was recently revealed at the Public Accounts Committee meeting by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, John Yao Agbeko.

While explaining that the project was no longer under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture but rather under the Office of the President, he stated that it had ran out of funds.

Questions have, therefore, been raised about why the Marine Drive Project has stalled when an amount of GH¢ 386,296 misapplied funds taken from the coffers of Marine Drive Project for the celebration of the 2018 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and 2018 Kundum Festival has not been recovered.

Background

In 2021, Catherine Abelema Afeku, former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, under the Akufo-Addo administration, and other government officials at the ministry were cited by the Auditor-General’s report for misapplying state resources.

“In contravention of Section 7 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), we noted that funds meant for the Marine Drive project amounting to GH¢ 387,196.00 were misapplied for the celebration of AFRIMA, Kundum Festival, and other activities,” the Auditor-General’s report for the period ending 31 December 2020, stated.

Another amount of GH¢ 73,000.00 was paid as additional expenditure for the Minister’s trip to the Volta Region from 15th to 18th June 2018.

On 7th March 2018, GH¢ 13,296.00 was paid for the Minister at the time, Catherine Afeku, to travel to the Western Region on official assignment.

Apart from these, there was payment of an allowance for the opening panel for procurement of vehicle on 3rd May 2018 at the cost of GH¢ 900.00.

Additionally, the audit report also mentions the release of GH¢ 100,000.00 to Palm Media Ghana Ltd. for the launch of AFRIMA 2018 on 17^th to 19^th May 2018, and GH¢ 200,000 for the release of funds to support Kundum Festival from 1st – 9th September 2018.

The confusion

According to the former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the GH¢ 200,000 which was drawn from the Marine Drive fund for Kundum festival in 2018 was used to pay the artistes that performed at the festival.

“We had artistes and I have a list of all of them [who performed and were paid]. Everybody can go to YouTube, and they will see the performances,” she said on Citi FM on August 20, 2021.

“I didn’t go round dishing money into people’s hands. Ask anybody who does events. [We used the] GH¢200,000 to take care of the likes of Medikal, Stonebwoy, Wisa Greid, Kuami Eugene, KiDi, Kwesi Arthur, among others. I was promoting our local artistes, and it was not a crime,” she said.

The former minister added that the amount did not even suffice for the project, so she had to rely on individual donors to pay all the artistes. The Axim Kundum Festival in 2018 featured other artistes such as D-Black, Agya Koo, Sefa, Kofi Kinaata, among others.

Catherine Afeku admitted to the release of GH¢ 100,000.00 to Palm Media Ghana Ltd. for the launch of AFRIMA 2018 which took place in Ghana on 17^th to 19^th May 2018.

She also indicated that the GH¢ 73,000.00 paid as additional expenditure for her trip to the Volta Region from 15^th to 18^th June 2018 catered for herself and some musicians she went with.

She, however, noted that the money drawn from the Marine Drive Project fund was subsequently refunded. This is at variance with the Auditor-General’s recent report that an amount of GH¢ 386,296 misapplied funds taken from the coffers of Marine Drive Project is yet to be recovered.

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GHAMRO was set up in 2015 as a royalties collection agency that represents the rights of music copyright holders, but to its employers, the agency has failed in it’s duties.

After promising to start paying royalties after they were bashed early this year, GHAMRO has fulfilled it’s duty, but at a chicken feed.

It has emerged that some artistes receive as low as GHS 67 and averagely, GHS 153 for their years of hard work.

This has forced many artistes to air their grievances on social media as a means of demanding accountability from the GHAMRO executives.

Gospel musician Nhyira Betty, who has five albums with two hit songs to her credit, has revealed that she received GHS 153 via Mobile Money.

According to her, her first royalty amounted to GHS 400 and rather than an advancement, the collection has reduced.

She believes her 17 years in the gospel music industry should have accrued a value more than she was given as she wonders what upcoming musicians would receive.

On his part, Kwaw Kese revealed he has never been paid any royalties in his 20 years of doing music.

The Hiplife artiste, who swept away five awards on the night of the 2008 edition of the Ghana Music Awards, lamented how he is expected to survive in the industry with no support.

He opined that the financial burden of production, promotion and distribution has all been left on the shoulders of the artistes, and urged GHAMRO to ensure they enjoy from their craft.

Rapper Ayigbe Edem did not deviate from the negotiating line as he came with full attack on the royalties collection board.

In his view, there is no Ghanaian entity designated for artistes in Ghana that is as useless as GHAMRO.

He added multiple emojis to his tweet to display his fury.

Speaking in an interview on the same issue on Joy Prime, Pappy Kojo expressed disappointment in the executives and bemoaned the meager amount they are paid.

“If GHAMRO will be giving GHS 153 for royalties, then they should keep it,” he said while in a somber mood.

The executives are yet to comment on the latest virtual protest.

According to him, people do not like to pay for using music, hence GHAMRO sometimes struggles to collect royalties from some institutions.

Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, he explained that on numerous occasions they have had to sue media houses, and telecommunication companies among others before they were able to retrieve the needed funds.

“Night clubs, when you go there to collect the money you see five macho people asking ‘what do you want?’ The last time, two of our people were abused. Last Friday, Ghana Police Service locked up two GHAMRO officers.”

Mr Adjatey told the host, Sammy Forson, on Wednesday, that the Management of a club reported the GHAMRO officials as robbers to the Police.

He said that because the Commander at the Police station was a friend of the club’s owners, the officers rushed to the place and arrested the GHAMRO staff despite the latter’s attempt to explain their purpose.

“Monday when I went to the station to explain, the Commander said yes he knows GHAMRO, but the lady told them the officers are armed robbers. Do you think that if we have a country that appreciates paying for music, we will be struggling? We don’t have that culture,” he lamented.

Mr. Adjatey said that despite the decade’s held belief that music is free, GHAMRO is working hard to ensure musicians are paid.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of France to Ghana, H.E. Anne Sophie Ave, has jumped to the defence of Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) following criticisms of their mandate.

According to her, a number of factors contribute to the slow progress of GHAMRO’s effectiveness in its field.

The passionate music follower, believes a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, as it was in the case of SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music) in France.

She told Joy FM’s Kofi Hayford, “SACEM… was created in 1851, so it’s basically over 140 years, [while] GHAMRO is 8 years old. The French Ambassador, by her comparison, asserts that critics need to give the only legal royalty collection outfit in Ghana the chance to grow.” 

In September 2021, GHAMRO announced new measures to aid in their royalty collections.

Former GHAMRO Chairman Rex Omar revealed that his outfit had signed a deal with a new digital royalty collection body, Capasso.

According to him, Capasso collects the digital royalties for artistes and right owners as part of GHAMRO’s efforts to digitalise its operations to enable creators to earn their due from their works.

In January 2022, he also disclosed that GHAMRO is also collaborating with an Irish company that helps to identify the songs being played on all radio and TV stations across the country and also come up with a new payment system.

Mr. Omar explained that unlike previous years when an artiste’s album among others, influenced how much he or she got paid, the new system will indicate which song was played, the time it was played, how long the song was played, the radio station that played the song and every other detail needed.

“The system will aggregate the number of songs of each registered artiste that were played and then from the logging, we know which artistes to pay and how much to pay them.”

Mr. Omar added that now, the number of songs from an artiste that is played will also determine how much money they will earn as royalties.

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However, an electoral committee, which was put together during a general meeting in October 2020 failed to organise elections on time.

This created a vacuum in succession and resulted in the need for that electoral committee to be dissolved.

Consequently, the Directors drew on Section 4.7 of the GHAMRO Constitution and appointed a five members Election Committee made up of Augustina Addison (Chairperson), Eric Afriyie, Haruna Sungumo Abdul-Aziz, Seth Kwaku Amponsah and Kwabena Donkor Jethro on Monday, April 26th, 2021 to provide a Board for the Society on or by the 20th of May 2022.

Legal turmoil ensued during this period. An interlocutory injunction was filed against the outfit to restrain them from conducting Board elections on February 9^th 2022. 

The lawyers of both sides were engaged in a lengthy and cumbersome back and forth tussle of motions until finally, the court dismissed the case in favour of GHAMRO, enabling them to hold elections for their society.

On the 15^th of May, 2022, the stage was set for the commencement of elections. There were ten centres in operation on that day: Members in Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Central, Volta and Northern Regions voted at the Centre for National Culture in their respective capitals.

Voters in Accra cast their ballots at CIBT, those in Western Region at Melody Hotel – Takoradi, those in Oti at Good Morning Hotel – Kpasa, and those in Upper East at Asongetaaba – Bolgatanga and those in Upper West at Royal Lodge Hotel – Wa.

Voting was conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana with the supervision of the Ghamro’s Election Committee.

The successful elections began at 8:30 AM and lasted till 3:00 PM at all centres.

The candidates for the elections were put into four groups as outlined in Section 4.2 of the GHAMRO Constitution and are as follows:

Composers

    Kwakye Kwabena Kabobo

    Kwame Adinkra

    Oheneba Kissi

    Diana Hopeson

    Kofi Abraham

    Rex Owusu Marfo

Publishers

   John Mensah Sarpong

   Benjamin Mensah

   Francis Omari Adofo

Performers

  Benny Wood Ruthy

  George Ofori Atta

  Elizabeth Tagoe

  Yaw Agyemang-Badu

Producers

Ernest Kwesi Ennin

Francis Boahene

When all was said and done and the votes cast were collated and counted, the results were as follows:

Composers

     Kwakye Kwabena Kabobo                             113 votes

     Kwame Adinkra                                               84 votes

     Oheneba Kissi                                                 116 votes

     Diana Hopeson                                               370 votes   Elected

     Kofi Abraham                                                  359 votes   Elected

     Rex Owusu Marfo                                           343 votes   Elected

Publishers

   John Mensah Sarpong                                       91 votes

   Benjamin Mensah                                              43 votes

   Francis Omare Adofo                                        332 votes – Elected

Performers

   Benny Wood Ruthy                                          117 votes

   George Ofori Atta                                              53 votes

   Elizabeth Tagoe                                                338 votes – Elected

   Yaw Agyemang-Badu                                       360 votes – Elected

Producers

  Ernest Kwesi Ennin                                             109 votes

  Francis Boahene                                                 349 votes – Elected

In collaboration with the Electoral Commission of Ghana, results were collated and declared at the 2022 GHAMR Board Elections as follows:

·       Diana Hopeson                                                   Composer

·       Kofi Abraham                                                      Composer

·       Rex Owusu Marfo                                               Composer

·       Francis Omare Adofo                               Publisher

·       Elizabeth Tagoe                                                   Performer

·       Yaw Agyemang-Badu                                          Performer

·       Francis Boahene                                                  Producer

The newly elected seven (7) member board were sworn into office by a High Court Judge, Her lordship Justice Hafisata Amaleboba (Mrs), on the 23 March 2022 at the GHAMRO Board Room for the commencement of their four (4) years term which will end in 2026.

Per article 4.2.2 of the Ghamro’s constitution, the board balloted to elect the leadership and four persons contested for the positions of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson respectively as follows:

Chairperson:       

·        Diana Hopeson got one vote (1)                                           

·        Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar) got six votes (6) – Elected

Vice-Chairperson:

·       Francis Omare Adofo got five votes (5) – Elected

·       Francis Boahene got one vote (1) and one person abstained (1)                       

Therefore, for the records, Mr Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar) and Francis Omari Adofo were duly elected as Chairman and Vice respectively.  

The GHAMRO Election Committee wishes to congratulate the membership, aspirants, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Electoral Commission for their turnout, courage, support and assistance in ensuring a successful peace-themed election.

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In accordance with the results collated and declared by the National Electoral Commission, the following members were elected as the New Ghamro Board for the next four years; Diana Hopeson, Kofi Abraham, Rex Owusu Marfo, Elizabeth Tagoe, Yaw Agyemang Badu, Francis Omare Adofo and Francis Boahen.

This comes after the Accra High Court threw out the motion for interlocutory injunction restraining the outfit from conducting Board elections on 9th February 2022.

After consideration of back and forth made for and against the said motion by the respective lawyers, the court dismissed the case in favour of the society to enable it to continue its electoral processes.

Further to article 4.4 of the GHAMRO constitution, elections are due every four years. The elections to appoint a governing board for the organisation was thus conducted by the National Electoral Commission on Tuesday 15th March 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The voting process was held at the following branches of Centre for National Culture in the respective regions; Brong Ahafo – Sunyani, Ashanti Region – Kumasi, Central Region – Cape Coast, Volta Region – Ho. For other regions, it was held at the following venues: Greater Accra Region – Accra (CIBT Hall), Western Region – Takoradi (Melody Hotel), Oti – Kpassa (Y Good Morning Hotel), Upper East – Bolgatanga (Asongetaaba) and Upper West – Wa (Royal Lodge Hotel).

Other aspirants were John Mensah Sarpong, Benjamin Mensah, Kwame Adinkra, Kwakye Kwabena Kabobo, Oheneba Kissi, Benny Wood Ruthy, George Ofori Atta and Kwesi Ernest Ennin.

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According to her, she failed to sign with the revenue collection body because of how little the royalties are. The money, from GHAMRO, she said, may not even buy her a dress.

Speaking on Asempa FM, she stated that “I don’t bother and that’s a little ridiculous for me to say considering I’m an artiste, but I have no control over how things are done here, in that way.”

Stephanie Benson added that because she is not usually based in Ghana she cannot complain without facing criticisms, however, it is high time GHAMRO fixes its royalty system.

The singer noted that her sister and colleague musician, Akosua Agyapong, has been “fighting desperately” to get GHAMRO to be of good standing.

“Because Akos again very deservingly she’s had some great hits but she doesn’t even get any kind of royalties, I think it needs to be sorted out,” Stephanie Benson said.

She added that although she has registered all her songs, she did not sign up to GHAMRO because of how little the royalties are.

Stephanie Benson revealed she sold one of her songs ‘Good Feeling’ to a US company that used some parts of it in a film.

“That makes me a little bit of money. I put a song out in the UK called ‘Hanging on’ and that made me more money in a day than anything I’ve ever had.”

She said it would help artiste immensely if GHAMRO’s operations improved.

GHAMRO’s new royalty collection system

Meanwhile, in September, 2021, GHAMRO announced new measures to aid in its royalty collections.

The Chairman, Rex Omar, revealed that his outfit had signed a deal with a new digital royalty collection body, Capasso.

According to him, Capasso collects the digital royalties for artistes and right owners as part of GHAMRO’s efforts to digitalise its operations to enable creators earn their due from their works.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews’ Mapitso Sebidi, Mr. Omar explained that this deal ensures that the digital rights licensing company provides monitoring systems to help track songs of Ghanaian right owners on digital platforms.

He stated that his outfit has even received royalties for some artistes who are yet to register with GHAMRO.

“We have some good money sitting down in dollars. Now the money comes with the name attached, so you can’t give somebody’s money to somebody. As I am talking, Sarkodie as an artiste, has not assigned his right to GHAMRO even though we are holding his money for him.”

In 2022, following this announcement, the manager of Gospel singer, Celestine Donkor made public, how much they’ve been given so far as royalties.

In a post, Kofi Donkor, who is also the singer’s husband, revealed that as of Thursday, January 20, 2022, they had been given GH₵11,000 as royalties.

According to him, this is the highest amount of money they have received from the organisation since they joined the industry.

In another interview in February 2022, Rex Omar also revealed ‘Melissa’ hitmaker Shatta Wale received over ¢30,000 as royalties in 2021. 

That, he said, is the highest amount of money GHAMRO has given out in its history.

Despite the improvement, some artistes still complain about the little to no royalties they receive.

Gospel Musician, Nobel Nketia, revealed in an interview that he has not received any royalties from the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) in the 21 years he has been in the industry.

According to him, he signed with the revenue collection body early in his career; however, after they failed to give him any royalty. He did not check with them again.

Radio and TV Personality, Vanessa Gyan, also called out GHAMRO for failing to pay the royalties of her late father, Kiki Gyan, who was a member of the popular band, Osibisa.

Taking to Twitter, she noted that Osibisa’s works are played across the country, however, the family is yet to receive a penny from the music collection body.

“GHAMRO has no info for my dad in their database but they do of the other bandmates. So, nobody thought to reach out to any of his family members? A whole Kiki Gyan. Well,” Vanessa Gyan wrote.

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According to him, that is the highest amount of money GHAMRO has given out in its history.

But reacting to this, Shatta Wale rendered the said amount as an insult to his music career after thanking the same office for being transparent with their work.

In an earlier tweet, the musician, detailing what he will use the money for said he will file for his tax because Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been on his neck.

I am using all this money to file my tax cuz I can’t bare the pressure anymore from GRA… No money in our industry and the little we make too the system takes it … Thank you GHAMRO for this transparency!!

He further advised his colleague musicians to stand up against the system because they deserve more than what is being paid to them.

He said 30k is an insult to my entire music career !!! But this one as usual Ghana artiste will sit down and won’t voice out !! Ego reach your turn !!! I came out before most of your so-called artistes so start crying for them cuz truth be told we all not making any money here??

The Shatta Movement boss also called on the Ghanaian leaders to pay mind to the entertainment industry.

0k for 15yrs of music …ah Ghana, why? Our leaders why …what have we done to you. Then KiDi en 3years dierr 0.50pesewas oo?.

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According to him, GHAMRO now collaborates with an Irish company that helps to identify the songs being played on all radio and TV stations across the country and also come up with a new payment system.

In an interview on Happy FM, Mr Omar explained that, unlike previous years when an artiste’s album among others, influenced how much he or she got paid, the new system will indicate which song was played from which artiste, the time it was played, how long the song was played, the radio station that played the song and every other detail.

He told the host, Doctar Cann that, “the system will aggregate the number of songs of each registered artiste that were played and then from the logging, we know which artistes to pay and how much to pay them.”

Mr Omar added that now, the number of songs from an artiste that is played will determine how much money they will earn as royalties.

“Last December, we logged over 131 radio stations across the country. We know that some people’s songs are played at parties but not on radio, so in order not to disrupt the system and have people complaining that we are only paying those whose songs have been logged, we decided to give 60% to every registered musician so that the 40% goes to those whose songs were logged,” Mr Omar added.

This, he explained, is part of the many efforts GHAMRO is making to ensure that artistes are essentially paid their due.

In September 2021, GHAMRO announced new measures to aid in their royalty collections.

He revealed that his outfit had signed a deal with a new digital royalty collection body, Capasso.

According to him, Capasso collects the digital royalties for artistes and right owners as part of GHAMRO’s efforts to digitalise its operations to enable creators earn their due from their works.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews’ Mapitso Sebidi, Mr Omar explained that this deal ensures that the digital rights licensing company provides monitoring systems to help track songs of Ghanaian right owners on digital platforms.

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In a post, Kofi Donkor, who is also the singer’s husband, revealed that as of Thursday, January 20, 2022, they have been given GH₵11,000 as royalties.

According to him, this is the highest amount of money they have received from the organisation since they joined the industry.

“I am happy to announce that at 2:44 pm today, we got our final payment (of royalties). So between my artiste and myself, we have received in excess of GH₵11,000,” Mr Donkor said.

This follows his initial complaints about receiving a paltry sum of money as royalties in 2020. At the time, a screenshot attached to his post revealed that he was given GH₵390 by GHAMRO.

“I have executively produced five albums and two singles. This is what I got for almost two years.

“My artiste has five albums, two singles with our label. She has eight features with other Ghanaian artistes all registered with GHAMRO,” Mr Donkor wrote.

However, after the post, he received a clarification from GHAMRO that the amount was only one of three payments due him and his artiste.

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To thank GHAMRO for following through with their promise, Mr Donkor shared the amount they have received in total.

He added that although this is impressive, GHAMRO can do better.

“I think it is only fair that I appreciate the hard work of the GHAMRO administration and Board for this,” he added.

GHAMRO’s new royalty collection system

Meanwhile, in September, 2021, GHAMRO announced new measures to aid in their royalty collections.

The Chairman, Rex Omar, revealed that his outfit had signed a deal with a new digital royalty collection body, Capasso.

According to him, Capasso collects the digital royalties for artistes and right owners as part of GHAMRO’s efforts to digitalise its operations to enable creators earn their due from their works.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews’ Mapitso Sebidi, Mr. Omar explained that this deal ensures that the digital rights licensing company provides monitoring systems to help track songs of Ghanaian right owners on digital platforms.

He stated that his outfit has even received royalties for some artistes who are yet to register with GHAMRO.

“We have some good money sitting down in dollars. Now the money comes with the name attached, so you can’t give somebody’s money to somebody. As I am talking, Sarkodie as an artiste, has not assigned his right to GHAMRO even though we are holding his money for him.”

In a press release dated December 11, 2021, he said the royalty distribution for this year’s distribution will be in two folds, thus, the ‘General’ and the ‘Title Specific’ which also includes monies received from CAPASSO of South Africa for works used on the online digital platforms.

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Read the full release below:

                PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) wishes to announce the start of Royalty distribution from Wednesday 22^nd December, 2021. Same shall continue to the end of January 2022.

This year’s distribution will be in two folds, the General and the Title Specific which also includes monies received from CAPASSO of South Africa for works used on the online digital platforms.

Whilst the general distribution will ensure that Right Owners receive royalty payments across board, the title specific will cater for monitored logs from local networks and the online streaming distribution.

In order to provide access for the benefit of Right Owners, GHAMRO shall soon publish the names of Artiste/Right Owners whose works have accrued royalties to enable them update and regularize the documentation needed.

GHAMRO reminds all commercial music users of their copyright obligations for 2022 and wishes all right owners, business affiliates and music users a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year

SIGNED

Prince Tsegah

0244670554

According to the GHAMRO CEO, the veteran’s prominence, talent and prolific songwriting skills earned him the nickname “steel of the Highlife genre.”

Speaking on Hitz FM, on Tuesday, Agya Abraham, as he is popularly known, recalled that Nana Ampadu’s talent allowed him to open up to many other musicians he wrote great songs with and also paved the way for many other highlife greats of today.

“Indeed, between 1964 and 1968, he wrote very good songs for some of the greats and we all grew up thinking they were music that the greats did,” he added.

Agya Abraham said Nana Ampadu was seen as an enigma in the music industry because many people did not understand his creativity while others accused him of using voodoo to create music.

“He led the genre of highlife, he was this steel of the highlife genre. Kwame, you did well, he has done what others couldn’t do,” the GHAMRO CEO noted.

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He added that Nana Ampadu also helped grow the Musicians Union of Ghana and had a significant impact on the development of GHAMRO.

Agya Abraham said, “you know what Kwame Ampadu did with MUSIGA, his involvement in collections management in this country was way back in 1982.

“He was part of the agitation and he helped set up the Copyright Society of Ghana. Kwame Ampadu and 99 others went to court and that has brought us this far. Kwame has paid his dues.”

The Highlife legend, Nana Kwame Ampadu, reportedly passed on on Tuesday, September 28.

The 76-year-old, according to sources, died at the Legon hospital after he fell sick overnight. He was rushed to the emergency ward on Tuesday morning and died shortly.

The composer, guitarist and singer, who is a household name both in the country and abroad, hails from Obo-Kwahu in the Eastern Region.

The inventive, clever, talented, imaginative, witty singer formed his African Brothers band in 1963. One of the founding members was Senior Eddie Donkor.

Nana Kwame Ampadu shot into prominence in 1967 with his ‘Ebi te yie’ (some are living well) track which many said was politically motivated.

According to the GodMC hitmaker, he has not received any money from the Organisation.

The award-winning artiste made the revelation when he was hosted by KMJ on Showbiz Now on Joy Prime TV.

M.anifest, who is about to release an album this year, emphasised that the situation at GHAMRO is a system issue.

He said if those in charge do not fix it now, it will worry many upcoming musicians.

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When asked if he is registered with the Organisation, he said that he did not have to register to earn monies from his own creative works.

Stating other examples, he said he has been receiving royalties from other international rights organisations even as an unregistered musician, so that should not be a problem.

This comes in the wake of Stonebwoy’s rants over the ¢2,000 he has received from GHAMRO as royalties in his entire career as a musician.

M.anifest is currently promoting his new single ‘La Vida’, which is off the ‘Madina To The Universe’ album set to be released this year.

In an interview with Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz Mr Logic said this on the hills of an announcement by the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) that it has entered into an agreement with some companies to provide digital monitoring systems to help in tracking how songs by Ghanaian musicians are used on radio, television, and digital platforms.

According to him, it is a guaranteed way to ensure that their music fetches them more royalties through airplay.

This is the time to pay payola so you can benefit. Now you have to pay payola to be paid. Go and pay payola so the DJs can play your songs so you can be paid…, he said.

In recent times, Dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy, revealed that he has received an amount of only 2,000 Ghana Cedis since he signed his rights to GHAMRO.

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This statement raised a lot of questions about the royalty system in Ghana and how musicians are to receive royalties due them.

Speaking at a press conference on August 31, 2021, the Chief Executive Officer of GHAMRO, Abraham Adjetey, said the long wait for getting a digital means of monitoring music, was over.

According to him, they have contracted CAPASSO, a copyright society in South Africa versed in Digital Rights Licensing, to monitor online digital platforms for Ghanaian songs.

According to him, after the exercise, they have been able to make $49,000 for GHAMRO right owners.

Mr Logic believes the system has been fixed through all these measures taken by the organisation.

According to him, it’s in the right direction to help unknown artistes earn money through royalties.

The system has been fixed. GHAMRO has fixed the country and all you need to do is to pay to be played so you can be paid…, he climaxed the assertion.

Reggae Dancehall Musician, Stonebwoy, had visited him ahead of his performance at the Yam Carnival, a brand new Afrobeat music festival from the creators of Afro Nation.

At that meeting, he said, “the amount I have ever gotten as music royalties in Ghana is ¢2,000. I am being honest, and I swear on the grave of my mother. They do not pay us, and I am stating this on camera. The conversation is big in Ghana, and everybody knows.”

He further stated, “the cheque I have ever received from GHAMRO is ¢2,000. It is not by force to go on a tour and perform that is not obligatory. But as musicians, we do not make money from our intellectual property.”

But Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), Abraham Adjetey, reacting to Stonebwoys comment on the payment, said the Putuu hitmaker has not updated his records at the royalties collection agency.

“We sent Stonebwoy a thousand, and another thousand, that is why he spoke about ¢2,000. Now he is to follow up and update his records. If you have money for Stonebwoy today, if I do not have his bank account details, where do I send the money to? If there is money for Stonebwoy, the money will be here in GHAMRO’s accounts,” he said.

According to the royalties collection agency’s website, it is a non-profit corporate body (limited by guarantee), and, therefore, all fees collected are distributed among the right owners whose works have been used, in this instance, composers, authors and producers, publishers in proportion to the use made of their works.

Mr Adjetey said his team recently had a meeting with Stonebwoy and his team and advised him to update his records, but all efforts to get him to do the needful have proven futile.

“Recently we had a meeting with him and he indicated to us that he will send somebody. In fact, we took some pictures outside, but to date, nobody has come back.

“We have done some follow-ups, that is not to say because he has not done anything, but it is important for him to do his part so we can also send whatever money we have for him,” he said.

M Adjetey believes since musicians and content creators want to reap from their intellectual property, they should also recognise that the economy is not

fully developed like other Western countries.

He said digitisation will help address the current challenges, but a slow progression is also important. He said under the law, GHAMRO is limited to only 30%.

“We cannot take the money we want, if we collect ¢100,000, GHAMRO is limited to only 30% used for lights, pay staff, operate and also do everything. It is an inhibition, but that does not mean we shouldn’t work.”

He admits there are challenges but of the strong conviction that GHAMRO will surmount all the hurdles impeding its work with all hands on deck.

“We must admit GHAMRO has not done everything right. Our communication has not been very good, our relationship with members have not been one hundred per cent. So we are sorry we have not been up 100%.” 

The royalties collection is expected to announce major policies this week. Mr Adjetey said that will bring a paradigm shift and change all musicians, composers and content creators are yearning for.

According to him, he was following the summit keenly and realised that Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) and Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) have no interest to push the industry forward.

Talking about problems associated with the music royalties system in Ghana, Stonebwoy said musicians were tired because there aren’t any innovative ideas popping up from the music authorities, most importantly, GHAMRO.

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Immediately the VGMA National Music Summit ended, Stonebwoy took to his Twitter platform to register his concern, saying:

Following the National Music Summit yesterday @Ghamro_official keeps repeating the same excuses.. We are tired! Uncle Rex and uncle Abraham. Our back is against the wall o.. and as for The State of #Musigha dier SAD Kwraaah!!

In the past, a number of musicians have expressed concerns about the royalty system’s inability to enable them to make money from their music.

Many have attributed the problem to the alleged ineffectiveness of GHAMRO.

However, the CEO, in an interview with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM‘s Daybreak Hitz, claimed that if the laws are enforced, musicians can kiss poverty goodbye.

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Right owners and musicians in this country will not be that poor if we can enforce the copyright laws to enable them to gain some income…, he said.

The CEO and GHAMRO have over the years taken up the initiative to ensure that registered members of the collective society receive what they are due from their music works.

In recent times he has reopened the conversation on the need for organisers of music reality shows to get a license from them before organising and allowing contestants to perform songs.

He told Andy on Daybreak Hitz that, the organisers should understand that they do not have rights to the songs to be performed and so, they have to get a license.

GHAMRO is a royalty collection agency within Ghana that represents the rights of music copyright holders.

It was created under section 49 of the Copyright Law, Act 690 of 2005. The agency collects royalties for all rights owners in Ghana.

The companies – MTN, Vodafone, Airtel and Tigo – were ordered to account for revenues generated from the use and performance of its musical works to the public since 2012.

The court, which was presided over by Justiceship, Jennifer Abena Dadzie, again asked the telcos to obtain user licenses for the performance of musical works to the public as well as facilitate music downloads via their various networks taking into consideration copyright infringements.

In conclusion, GHAMRO requested for damages for breach of copyright and for the payment of 10% copyright royalties on revenue generated from music downloads and uses/performance since 2012. 

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Read the full statement below:

This statement is to update our cherished members and the general public regarding the suit that the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) brought against the three Telcom giants, namely; MTN, VODAFONE, AIRTEL & TIGO.

As an update, judgement was delivered on the 10^th day of March, 2021 at an Accra High Court of Justice (Commercial Division ’10’) by his Justiceship, Jennifer Abena Dadzie.

As background to this suit, in 2016, through its solicitors, Poku Edusei & Associates, GHAMRO brought an action for a declaration that the failure of the Telecom networks, MTN, VODAFONE, TIGO & AIRTEL to obtain user licenses for the performance of musical works to the public as well as facilitating music downloads via their various networks constituted copyright infringement.

In furtherance of this, the Society requested an order to the companies to account for revenues generated from the use/performance of its musical works to the public since 2012 as well as to be compelled to obtain user licenses for the use and performance of the musical works to the public.

In conclusion, GHAMRO requested for damages for breach of copyright and for the payment of 10% copyright royalties on revenue generated from music downloads and uses/performance since 2012.   

In its landmark ruling, Her Justiceship granted GHAMRO the reliefs sought which includes collection of royalties for the public performance; accounting for revenue generated from the public performance; payment of 10% copyright royalties on revenues generated from the use of works belonging to GHAMRO members and obtaining blanket licenses for the use and performance as such.

The court also declared that where performing artistes have already assigned their rights in public performance to GHAMRO, the artistes themselves are not the proper persons to receive the royalties and no agreement will preclude GHAMRO from commencing an action to recover the royalties due it.

It that respect, the court awarded a cost of sixty thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 60,000) against each of the Telecom companies to GHAMRO.

Meanwhile, GHAMRO through its Solicitors will collaborate with the Telcom companies to enter into account in appreciation of the rulings and partnership services to the Industry.

This landmark case has situated GHAMRO to affect the licensing of use of music in public performances by the TELCOS companies and by extension other users of musical works of its assigned repertoire. ‘

Thus, right owners, users like hotels, restaurant, transport operators, content providers, night clubs, banks, filling stations, malls and all other users are by this release requested to take note.

GHAMRO is grateful for the support it enjoyed during the period.

Signed

Prince Tsegah

Corporate Services Manager

The interim board is to run the affairs of the organisation pending the election of a new board.

The members at the meeting elected, the following persons:

1. Rex Owusu Marfo (Chair Person)
2. Diana Hopeson
3. Ahmed Band
4. Augustina Addison
5. Abraham Kofi Boakye

The resolution at the meeting was that the 5-Member Interim Board was to have an expiration of 40 days by which time it should make sure election of the Board is conducted.

The interim leadership will also approve all administrative costs and other capital expenditure as required by the rules and regulations of the Society.

This situation became necessary when the GHAMRO CEO called on members to present the state of GHAMRO address at the emergency meeting.

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The Election Committee Chairman also read his report to the members at the said meeting on the status of the Board Election and reasons why there was a delay in the process after congress mandated them on October 12, 2020, to conduct the Board Election within 3 months.

The members who were not satisfied with the work of the Election Committee voted for a dissolution of the said committee and mandated the Interim Board to appoint a New Election Committee to conduct the Board Election within 40 days.

At the Interim Board’s first meeting held on the 22^nd April 2021, a new Election Committee was appointed and made up of the following persons, Augustina Addison (Chair Person); Aziz Haruna Sungumo (Member); Eric Afriye (Member); Seth Amponsah (Member) and Jethro Kwabena Donkor (Member).

The new Election Committee will communicate a date for the Board Elections soon.

Signed,

Corporate Manager

Prince Don Tsegah

The meeting is scheduled for the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi (Quarshie Idun Hall) on Monday, 19^th April 2021.

The decision to have a general meeting, according to the music rights body, has been occasioned by calls from the membership of the Society nationwide, further to Section 6.6.(1) of the GHAMRO constitution.

The public will recall that an Election Committee was elected at the Annual Congress held at the General Assembly in Kumasi on October 14, 2020 to oversee the elections in March 2021 and swear in a new Board.  

In the course of the subsequent process, twelve aspirants picked forms to contest out of which three (3) persons were disqualified after the vetting, on the grounds of having contested on two conservative terms further to Section 4.4(2) of the new constitution which states that “a member of the Board may be re -elected for another term but not more than two conservative terms”

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Following the petition by the three disqualified members to the board, it was decided that the Committee should allow all aspirants to compete in an open contest to avoid any legal action that may delay the process.

The Election Committee however stuck to its decision during which period, the board also exited after its term expired and handed over to Management.

This situation was the result of the postponement of the election on three occasions. Subsequently Management met with the Election Committee on the 25^th March, 2021 and 6^th April, 2021 on a roadmap and wrote to the Attorney General for assistance for the interpretation and application of the provisions 4.4. of the constitution.

Having regard to ensuring a good corporate process, with respect to congress appointing an interim board to approve operational and administrative costs, coupled with the calls by members, Management has opted in response to Section 6.6(2), to organize the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting as indicated.

The agenda of the meeting as published in the Daily Graphic of the 13^th April, 2021, is to report the state of the Society to congress, appoint an interim body to approve expenditure and for the Election Committee to update the congress.

Prince Don Tsegah

Corporate Head

CELL NO: 0243600924.

DATED THIS 14^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2021.

This election would be conducted nationwide to make it relatively easy for all members to vote for their preferred nominees.

All 12 aspirants have now been approved to contest the election this March, since the election committee’s proposal to disqualify six out of the 12, has been reviewed and annulled at an emergency meeting convened amongst the Board, the Election Committee and the Management of GHAMRO.

The tenure of office for the Board officially ends on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, and the Board has officially handed over to the Management led by the Chief Executive Officer, Abraham Adjetey, who would run the affairs of the organisation in accordance with the rules and regulations.

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The persons who picked up nomination forms and went through the vetting process are as follows:

1. Mrs. Diana Hopeson
2. Mr. Benjamin Mensah
3. Rev. Francis Boahene.
4. Rev. Yaw Badu Agyemang
5. Elizabeth Tagoe
6. Abena Ruthy
7. Kwesi Ernest
8. Kwame Adinkrah
9. John Mensah Sarpong
10. 10.Kwakye Kobbena Kabobo.
11. 11. Oheneba Kissi
12. 12.Rex Owusu Marfo.

Note should be taken of the fact that seven out of the 12 persons shall be called to the board, in accordance with the simple majority rule as provided for in the PNDC Law 284 on the conduct of elections.

The seven elected Board members shall comprise of:

1. Three (3) composers.

2. One (1) Publisher.

3. Two (2) Performers.

4. One (1) Producer of sound recording.

We wish all nominees good luck.

        Signed,

Corporate and PR Manager,

Prince Don Tsegah.

In a release, he said the meeting will be held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, at exactly 10:am.

The notice, however, added that the whole meeting will also be virtually streamed via GHAMRO’s website and social media pages.

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Read full release below:

Notice – Annual General Mee… by Dennis Adu

According to Mr Adjei, Mr Awuku falsely and maliciously lied to the public on Okay FM, an Accra based radio station a few days ago, when he confessed to planting secret recorders in the Executive Office of GHAMRO.

Let me tell you one secret, National President of the Spinners Association gave me money to buy secret recorders to put in the office. That way every meeting that they had, all 17 meetings are in my possession [SIC], he claimed.

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In an interview with Adomonline.com, Flash said he has never given any money to him.

According to Flash, he has confronted Mr Awuku after seeing the publications on social media because his statements were doctored to make it seem as if he was the person who gave him money to go on with the recording.

Flash said during a telephone conversation between himself and Mr Hagan, he said: It was Carlos Sakyi who said he should come for money from the spinners association, to be used for that clandestine activity. 

Flash challenged Mr Awuku to come out and deny the said untruth circulating on the various platforms. 

He has also threatened to seek legal redress if need be.

If Hagan doesn’t come out publicly to retract his statement and give unqualified apology for lying about me to the public, we shall meet in court, he said.

A staff of United Concerned Members (UNICOM), Hagan Awuku, has confessed to planting secret recorders in the Executive Office of Ghana Music Right Organisation (GHAMRO).

Mr Awuku said his intention was to monitor the 17 meetings held by the executives of GHAMRO in response to some alleged misappropriation of funds.

As a member of UNICOM GHAMRO, an anti-corruption pressure group within the organisation set up for accountability and transparency of executives, Mr Awuku defended he was entitled to record the dealings for evidence purposes.

“Let me tell you one secret, national president of Spinners Association gave me money to buy secret recorders to put in the office. That way every meeting that they had, all 17 meetings are in my possession,” he claimed.

He said the plan was hatched when the locks of the Executive Office of the embattled Chairman of GHAMRO Board, Carlos Sakyi, was broken in a bid to force him to vacate his office.

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His suspicion of the intent of management, that took over his office made him go the extreme to eavesdrop on their meetings.

Mr Awuku added his invasion of privacy was a tit-for-tat move after his conversation was also recorded by one of the top executives.

Akoo Nana, in one of his social media posts, alleged that Mr Omar had embezzled the outfit’s funds and should be held accountable by ‘secret-spilling’ Kennedy Agyapong.

The allegations have forced Mr Omar to go dirty on the musician, labeling him an uncivilised.

According to him, he is fully poised for every negativity as he learnt from the obstacles outgone president, Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour) faced.

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“GHAMRO is not responsible for the success of every musician. It is a private entity based on membership. Who is Akoo Nana? He is just a frustrated guy looking for attention,” he said.

Capitalising on transparency and accountability, the GHAMRO president hinted the outfit is subject to periodic investigations by the Attorney General.

He suggested a portion of the $100 million set aside by government should be given towards research into finding indigenous and alternative cure for the coronavirus.

Stating his opinion on Adom FM’s social discussion segment on Dwaso Nsem, Yasem Nie, Agya Abraham explained that players in the music industry have been affected financially by the ban as they have had to cancel shows, hence the clarion call.

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Board Chairman of GHAMRO, Rex Omar, supporting his call, pleaded with government to give ‘domestic traditional ways of healing’ (herbal medicine) a try.

That notwithstanding, Agya Abraham cautioned industry players to adhere to strict health directives of social distancing.

“Celebrities attract fans who would love to come close thus exposing them to the virus. In times like this they should simply stay at home or politely decline so as not to endanger themselves or the public,” he advised.

Giving details of the process, Board Chairman of GHAMRO, Rex Omar, said church [gospel] music, like every other composition, amounts to intellectual property which must be protected.

He explained on Adom FM’s social discussion segment, Yasem Nie, that songs used for church services are commercial music hence churches must be licensed and billed for the usage of such copyright content.

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“Pastors research the Bible and reach their theme for service of which they take collection. In similar fashion, when someone searches the Bible and composes a song, churches must also pay to use it. Composition is composition and right is right,” he noted.

The Bible says an evangelist should feed from his evangelism, likewise, a musician should also feed from his music and it is exactly what we intend to do for them,” he educated.

Rex Omar explained that gospel musicians are no different from secular musicians hence should also benefit from what they toiled for from the churches.

Following directives given by the Ministry of Health under the auspices of the Ministry of Education which discourages large gathering and functions, GHAMRO is with immediate effect discouraging concerts and other events until the cases subside.

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The organisation is entreating all its members and musicians who have returned from coronavirus high infected countries to self-quarantine for 14 days.

In a press statement signed by its Public Affairs Director, Prince Tsegah, GHAMRO said as part of efforts to enlighten its members, it will send bulk texts on a frequent basis, accompanied by needed health tit-bits.

Meanwhile, Board Chairman of the Association, Rex Owusu Marfo, has called on Ghanaians to rally behind the President instead of politicising the sensitive issue.

The Auditor General’s special audit of the accounts of GHAMRO) revealed that ¢2,339,272.79 has not been fully accounted for.

A forensic audit conducted on the organisation’s accounts from 2012 to 2016 under the Carlos Sakyi administration revealed there were no documentations or payment vouchers to prove disbursed funds including various transfers and withdrawals.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem’s Anti-Corruption segment, Fabewoso, Abraham Adjetey, a member of the current Board of GHAMRO said the findings were the true reflection of the organisation’s financial status.

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According to Agya Abraham as he is popularly known, the current administration has worked tirelessly to get GHAMRO back on its feet to be able to pay royalties to musicians.

However, John Mensah Sarpong, a member of Mr Sakyi’s administration said they were working smoothly with all documentations available till unknown people raided their offices.

“I can attest this is not the final report and you can verify from one Mr Akuamoah Boateng at the Auditor General’s office because there is no way such a mess will happen looking at the calibre of people who were on the Board,” he said.

To Mr Sarpong, the report does not reflect the reality of the former administration because they left behind GHc5.4million in the account of GHAMRO before leaving office.

The singer revealed in an interview with Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz that an amount of GH₵290 was deposited into her account after her actions in front of the GHAMRO offices.

She claimed the swift action taken by GHAMRO to pay her the money has gone a long way to prove that the organisation’s hesitation to pay her royalties was a deliberate act.

Ama Rasta, on Wednesday, went to the offices of GHAMRO to curse its workers over their failure to pay her royalties.

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Ama Rasta holding alcohol and eggs

Ama Rasta told Andy Dosty that but for her decision to pronounce the curses, GHAMRO would have kept the royalties due her.

She said the institution had, on countless occasions, failed to tell her the exact amount of money due her as royalties as well as failed to tell her what the royalty they give her at the moment entails.

GHAMRO’s National Coordinator, Yaw Osbourne, has, however described the curses as coming from someone who he considers not to be too civil.

According to him, the individuals at GHAMRO to whom the curse was directed don’t disburse royalties.

He explained that there is a system in place that handles such disbursements.

He also alleged that Ama Rasta’s actions were influenced by musician Akosua Adjepong, who is fighting the organisation in court.

The former member of GHAMRO, Akosua Agyapong has accused the current GHAMRO Chairman, Mr Rex Omar of misappropriating funds collected by the organisation as music royalties.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem’s anti-corruption segment, Fabewoso, on Wednesday, Madam Agyapong and another former member of GHAMRO, Mr Awuku Hagan slammed the current Board over non-payment of royalties.

According to them, the monies retrieved by GHAMRO as music royalties were way higher than monies distributed to registered musicians under the umbrella of the music rights organisation.

“GHAMRO has a lot of money but just being heartless with the people. They have failed to pay royalties due creative art workers while we wallow and die in poverty. GHAMRO is hurting musicians,” Miss Agyapong fumed.

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Reacting to this on the same Dwaso Nsem morning show on Adom FM on Thursday, Mr Omar rubbished allegations made by Miss Agyapong and Mr Hagan.

“They are doing politics. Akosua Agyapong and some people wanted to get license from Attorney General to also collect royalties but they were denied.

“Awuku Hagan supporting her was also staff in Carlos Sekyi’s administration. When we came, we sacked him and he is peeved. We didn’t see what he was doing,” Mr Omar explained.

What baffles Mr Omar’s mindset is that in the previous administration of GHAMRO which included Miss Agyapong, there was never an annual report although it was required by law.

In response, Miss Agyapong said the Attorney General didn’t halt her moves to own her own music royalties collection agency.

“If you go to many African countries, there are so many collection societies, he should say the truth that outside, how many collection societies do we have? We were not denied, she told us to sit down and talk; they should be very careful,” she said.

In an interview on Adom TV, Mr Osborne said Ama Rasta had no reason to curse members of the organisation.

According to him, he had already explained to Ama Rasta that, her royalties would be paid because “she was part of the musicians whose monies couldn’t be processed” due to a technical error.

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Mr Osborne said he told Ama Rasta to exercise patience as he worked around the clock to make sure she collects her music royalties in due time, hence was surprised to see her cursing staff of the music rights company.

“I told her I would make sure she gets paid on Friday. What’s the reason for her cursing us? We don’t give physical cash and that is what she is demanding. We just resumed from holidays so I asked her to exercise patience,” she said.

“She already made up her mind to curse. Her name was part of the error list so we are regrouping musicians who couldn’t receive theirs and pay everyone eventually,” Mr Osborne explained.

Ama Rasta’s curse

A female artiste, only known as Ama Rasta, reigned curses on the management of GHAMRO over the organisation’s failure to pay her royalties.

The artiste was seen in a video with a bottle of what looked like dry gin and some eggs in hand while making her threats at the premises of GHAMRO, on Wednesday.

“Give me my money, it’s that simple,” she said in Twi.

Not even pleas from bystanders for Ama Rasta to abandon her agenda was enough.

According to them, GHAMRO as an organisation responsible for the collection and distribution of royalties to musicians and all other creative workers in Ghana, has not been diligent with its duties.

According to them, some of their colleagues cannot even boast of a car tyre despite the numerous sources of revenue on their works.

Ghanaian female highlife artiste and television personality, Akosua Agyepong and Mr Awuku Hagan, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem’s Anti-Corruption segment, Fabewoso, lamented the plight of their colleagues over non-payment of the royalties.

“GHAMRO has a lot of money but just being heartless with the people. They have failed to pay royalties due creative art workers while we wallow and die in poverty. GHAMRO is hurting musicians,” Miss Agyepong fumed.

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They mentioned public music users including radio and TV stations, hotels, night clubs, pubs, event organisers, barbering shops and shopping malls as some sources of revenue to GHAMRO.

They further alleged some members are paid as low as GH¢ 50.00, GH¢100.00 and GH¢120.00 as royalties.